Dr. Melissa Nicole Ortega
Dr. Melissa Nicole Ortega is life-long El Pasoan and a proud graduate of Â鶹¹ÙÍø. She studied Transnational Feminism in Umea Sweden and recently completed her Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, and Culture, during the Fall of 2018.
Dr. Ortega teaches Introduction to Women’s Studies and Global Feminisms courses in the Women's and Gender Studies Department and has previously taught Science Education courses in the College of Education. She also works for the El Paso Independent School District as the Assistant Director of Staff Development. Dr. Ortega's background and expertise are in education, administration, program management, professional development, curriculum development, public school and university instruction, women’s and gender studies, science education and student success.
Dr. Ortega holds Texas teaching certifications in middle school science and principal certifications for grades K-12. She has several years of experience coordinating and directing programs in the university and school district settings where she has supervised the Master Teacher Academies program for STEM Education, Field Experience and Student Teaching, Advanced Academics, Middle School Science District Instruction, and Staff Development. She was admitted into the Superintendent Certification program through the University of Arlington Texas in January 2017.
Dr. Ortega is the recipient of the Distinguished Leadership award in 2018, the InterGender Research School in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies Scholarship in 2011, and the Graduate Student Instructor Teaching Portfolio Award in 2010.
Dr. Ortega has presented her research at several conferences including the Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s annual Women’s History Month Conference, the Southwest Diversity Summit, NMSU’s Annual Mentoring Conference, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education, and the American Institute of Higher Education International Conference. Her work has appeared in journals such as the American Institute for Higher Education, Society for Informational Technology and Teacher Education, and i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology.
Dr. Ortega also a member of the Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She was also selected to represent the university as the 2017 Â鶹¹ÙÍø Homecoming Queen.